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www.standard.net.au THURSDAY, October 16, 2008 ON THE LAND – 3 Deals for Dairy Farmers’ suppliers under takeover plan NEW milk contracts will be offered to suppliers of the Dairy Farmers Milk Co- operative (DFMC) as part of the National Foods proposal to acquire Australian Co- operative Foods (ACF), which trades as Dairy Farm- ers. Dairy Farmers’ suppliers are being offered new contracts. DFMC chairman Ian Zandstra said the new con- tracts had been issued fol- lowing the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) de- cision to issue a draft deter- mination. The determination pro- poses to authorise for five years both the milk pricing and milk purchasing poli- cies between DFMC and ACFto enable their continu- ation following the potential sale of ACF to National Foods. It also authorises the pay- ment of the prices agreed between DFMC and Nation- al Foods in respect the new milk contracts. While it is not yet known whether the ACCC will issue a final determination auth- orising the conduct, ACF and DFMC expect that the ACCC will do so. ‘‘The new milk contracts are currently being issued to DFMC suppliers in Queens- land, New South Wales, Vic- toria and South Australia,’’ Mr Zandstra said yesterday. ‘‘Subject to authorisation by the ACCC, attractive milk prices have been agreed un- til 30 June, 2010 and after that date, DFMC will nego- tiate ongoing milk prices with ACF (if owned by Nat- ional Foods), which has indi- cated an intention to pay DFMC suppliers regionally competitive farm-gate milk prices. ‘‘As always, the actual price received by each indi- vidual farmer will depend on a range of factors includ- ing composition, quality, supply pattern, farm size and location. ‘‘As such, I strongly en- courage DFMC suppliers to contact their localDFMCdi- rector or farm services offi- cer to discuss the new contracts inmoredetail,’’Mr Zandstra said. ‘‘Of course, for National Foods’ proposal to succeed, it requires the support of 75 per cent or more of ACF ac- tive members who vote on the proposal. ‘‘The proposal is also sub- ject to a number of condi- tions, including a condition that new and existing sup- pliers to DFMC enter into revised milk supply con- tracts withDFMCfor a mini- mum period to 30 June, 2010 to secure certain regional New contracts on offer ‘‘The actual price received by each individual farmer will depend on a range of factors.’’ Ian Zandstra minimum volumes of milk,’’ he said. Suppliers must en- ter these contracts by the second court hearing, ex- pected to be held on Novem- ber 18. ACF and DFMC are now planning forums at 23 lo- cations in the supply areas to discuss the National Foods’ proposal and new milk supply contracts. Portable unit takes the hard work out of crutching By MARY ALEXANDER AWARRNAMBOOLman has inventedanewport- ablesheepcrutching sys- temthat is quickerand safer than the conventional woolshedmethod. Terry Cathro crutched 3000sheepin less thantwo days in his first job with the machineatOuyenlast month. ‘‘The farmerwas amazed,’’MrCathro said. ‘‘Iwasjust so rapt. It just workedlike clockwork.’’ TheformerNewZealand shearer,whohasspent the last 30 yearsworking asa panel beater, designed the three-stand quick-release system in consultation with Warrnamboolsteel fabri- catorSamNeville. ‘‘Between thetwoof us, wejiggledaroundthe best of the ideaswecouldcome upwith,’’MrCathro said. Thetrailer-mounted sys- temcanbesetupand packedupin 10 minutes andusesadrop-downrace that deliverssheepdirect to the crutchers. ‘‘The onlymechanical working parts are the shearing plants so there’s nothing else tobreakdown whenyou’re out in the bush. It reducesdown- time.’’ ‘‘It’s also cutting down on the costs of labour.’’ Terry Cathro crutcher could crutchupto 600sheepadayusing the machinecomparedto 400 to 500sheepover the boards. ‘‘One farmerhas 12,000 sheepthat tookhima monthto crutch. I could havedonethat intwo weeks.’’ MrCathro said farmers werefinding itmoreand moredifficult to find crutchers. ‘‘With this,thecrutchers don’tminddoingtheworkbe- causetheydon’thavetodrag thesheep.It’salsocutting downonthecostsoflabour.’’ MrCathro also expects Terry Cathro (front) and assistant PereWilliams with the new mobile crutchingmachine. ‘‘You’re not dragging the sheepalongway(com- paredto conventional sheds)andit’s somuchless strainonyour back.The rouseabouts are not strain- ing or bendingtheir backs either. ‘‘It’s nothardonthesheep anditendsuptobequite convenient for the farmer. Hejust brings thesheepup 080925AM04 Picture: ANGELAMILNE to the yardanditcanalso bedonein thepaddockif needbe,’’hesaid. MrCathro saideach themachinetoreduce the needfor mulesing in flocks because farmers willbe able to crutch theirsheep moreoften. ‘‘Usually the longer it takes todothe crutching, themorefly strike will set inandthemoresheepthey will loose.’’ MrCathro already has bookingsfromproperties across the south-westand into SouthAustraliaand expects tohaveto construct asecondmachinetomeet demand. Warrnambool Agricultural 92 Caramut Road, ?? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Phone 5562 5555. Fax: 5561 1653 Kelvin Monigatti 0427 052 630 Trevor Bant 0427 625 555 Bill Forbes 0427 141 525 Ballarat Agricultural Cnr Learmonth and Ring Roads Phone: 5339 3038. Fax: 5338 1418 Rod Male 0419 008 493 Ian Trewavis 0427 855 622 Tim Smyth 0409 173 556 OTL 003 WS593138-DM-16/10